Kyle Pratt's Blog: Musings & Rantings, page 15
August 17, 2016
Oregon Christian Writers (Day 3)
Tonight the Cascade Awards were presented at the Oregon Christian Writers Conference.
During the awards dinner I sat with friends Barbara Blakey and Kristie Kandoll. Barbara is a past Cascade Award winner and Kristie was up for the Unpublished Historical Fiction Award tonight along with another friend, Julie McDonald. I really expected one of them to walk away with the award, but the winner was the third finalist, Kathleen Freeman, with her book Children of the Revolution.
Kyle Pratt and Ben Wolf with his Cascade Award winning children's book
Another friend, Ben Wolf, won in the Published Children’s Book category with his story, I’d Punch a Lion in his Eye for You. Last year Ben won in the Speculative Fiction category with his debut novel Blood for Blood, and I was the runner-up with, A Time to Endure. This year neither of us competed in that group, but next year I’m planning to enter the Speculative Fiction category again with a my unpublished novel, Seekers of Earth. Ben edited the book for me so, I’m hoping it will be a good year for both of us.
August 16, 2016
Oregon Christian Writers (Day 2)
I had a chance to talk with author and editor Ben Wolf on my second day at the Oregon Christian Writers conference.
Ben edited my upcoming novel Seekers of Earth, and will be editing the second book in the series, Recall the Earth.
Kyle Pratt with Ben wolf
In those stories, humans live on hundreds of worlds and believe that over three hundred years ago pre-industrial Earth was destroyed by the advancing Valac hegemony. The Mage, a benevolent and highly advanced race, are only able to save a few thousand people. These surviving humans are offered sophisticated technology in return for their help in the fight against the Valac. Humans become the guardians of the Mage.
Seventeen year old Lucas Baldwin, the young son of a powerful lord, is on his first deep space training mission. Advancing through a captured facility he encounters a lunatic girl about his age. Only later does he realize that the girl, Rachel, is speaking English, a long dead language. Rachel talks of an Earth still in existence and more advanced than the horse and buggy world that had supposedly been destroyed. Lucas wonders if the history he has been taught is all a lie—but such thoughts are treason.
Ben and I sent many emails back and forth during the editing of Seekers of Earth, but having a chance to sit down and discuss the series was an exceptional opportunity. Thanks Ben.
Both Seekers of Earth and Recall the Earth will be released next year.
August 15, 2016
Oregon Christian Writers (Day 1)
I traveled down to Portland, today with my friend and fellow author Barbara Blakey to attend the Oregon Christian Writers conference. While we will be attending the same conference we go for different reasons.
Kyle Pratt with Sue Brower of Gilead Publishing
Barbara is talented, traditional published writer. While she enjoys meeting and talking with people, one of the main reasons she attends conferences is to network with agents and publishers.
While I also enjoy meeting with fellow authors and discussing trends in the world of writing, I never set out to make book proposals to agents and publishers. I’m a successful indie publisher, what could a traditional publisher do for me? Well, I put that question to Sue Brower, vice president of acquisitions for Gilead Publishing, at the first dinner of the conference.
Sue spoke on a panel of editors at the start of the conference, and mentioned that if an indie writer had a platform and was reasonably successful Gilead would be interested in talking to them. So, at dinner I sought her out and ask my question.
We discussed the books I’ve published and the projects I’m working on, and she told me several ways Gilead might help me. I don’t know if I’ll be working with her in the future, but it is something I need to consider and a great start to the conference.
I hope the first day was as interesting for my friend Barbara.
August 9, 2016
Prepping for Tomorrow
This Thursday, August 11th, I’ll be on the Prepping for Tomorrow podcast with bestselling author Bobby Akart.
Bobby is a five-time Amazon Top 50 author of seven number one bestsellers in both fiction (Blackout Series and Boston Brahmin Series) and non-fiction (Prepping for Tomorrow Series) genres.
The Prepping for Tomorrow podcast features interviews with leading post-apocalyptic fiction authors, such as Steve Konkoly, Franklin Horton, and Claire C. Riley, as well as experts in the field of survival and preparedness. Bobby, the creator of Freedom Preppers, focuses on tips, techniques and the importance of prepper fiction in developing a well-rounded, but comprehensive, preparedness plan.
I really don’t know where Bobby gets the time for all he does. The podcast will be live at 6:00pm Thursday, Pacific Time (Friday, 1:00am UTC). I’ll be joining Bobby after his introductory remarks. We’ll be talking about my Strengthen What Remains Series, writing, and the real concerns about being ready in an uncertain world.
If you don’t catch it live you can still hear the recorded version, simply click here, and check the archived shows. I’m thrilled to talk with him and I invite you to listen and be a part of the conversation. For more information, or to listen live, click here.
July 15, 2016
Long Way to a New Release
When I began writing The Long Way Home I planned on it being a novelette of about 8,000 words.
Sometimes a story has a mind of its own. The completed manuscript turned into a 21,000 word novella.
As with Nightmare in Slow Motion, readers of the Strengthen What Remains novels have seen part of the story, and many have asked me to fill in the blanks. The Long Way Home takes place as chapters eight through twenty-two unfold in the novel Through Many Fires.
This story focuses on Trevor, the father of Caden Westmore. Five cities had already been decimated by nuclear terrorism when Trevor sets out on a mission to bring Sue, his pregnant daughter-in-law, back to the relative safety of the family farm. He also hopes to find his daughter Lisa and bring her home. But, almost immediately upon finding Sue, in the suburbs of Seattle, terrorists detonate another nuclear bomb and the two must flee amid the chaos and fallout.
It took me much longer than expected to write, but it was released earlier today and is available on Amazon, Kobo and Smashwords. The novella will be available soon on other sites. Readers, let me know what you think, and please review the book. Thanks!
June 30, 2016
Courageous Debby
My friend Debby Lee is changing.
Many writers are shy, solitary, individuals that like nothing more than writing their stories and sending them off to agents and publishers. When I first met Debby I saw that reticence in her.
Debby Lee signs a copy of The Courageous Brides
She already had thirteen books on Amazon, before the recent release of The Courageous Brides Collection. About that time she signed with Tamela Murray of the Steve Laube Agency and began writing for Barbour. With the upcoming release of the Mountain Christmas Brides anthology and the Pony Express Romance Collection scheduled for release in April of next year, Debby will be asked for more interviews and to be at more events.
Debby was recently interviewed, and has been written about in several blogs. A few days ago she was at a book signing. The shy woman I met a few years ago is evolving into a more confident outgoing author.
I’m happy for my friend.
June 29, 2016
No Regrets
Someone once said, “There is no such thing as bad publicity.” I’m not sure that’s true, but in this case I was very happy to see my name mentioned several times in The Chronicle, my local paper.
A friend of mine, Julie McDonald Zander, writes a column for the newspaper, and recently called me. Her first questions were when and why I started self-publishing. I told her I started my business in August of 2013, but I prefer the term indie-publishing. Self-publish has the image of boxes of books stacked in the garage that will never be sold. I keep a few copies of my books to give to reviewers and bloggers, but other than that I have no inventory. I should have added that my books are sold in over sixty-five countries and on every inhabited continent. I’m trying to find a way to get my books to Antarctica.
I’ll be speaking this September at the Southwest Washington Writers Conference on using Amazon, Nook, Kobo, iTunes and Smashwords for broader ebook distribution. I’ll also talk about how to use print-on-demand and audiobooks for greater reach. The conference is in Centralia on September 17th. If you’re interested you can register here.
Until recently, most writers went through agents and traditional publishers. During our conversation, Julie asked me if I ever regretted not going the traditional route. I told her that if I had waited to be traditionally published I might have one or two books out by now, maybe none. Later, as I reflected on my comments, it occurred to me that I don’t think of my work in terms of Traditional or Indie. I can still sign a traditional publishing contract. I just don’t pursue one.
By using indie-publishing, I now make a living running my own publishing business and writing books.
No, Julie, I have no regrets.
June 18, 2016
Send Me A Picture!
A friend of mine sent me a picture, and that gave me an idea.
Chris reading Braving the Storms
My wife usually gets a worried look when I have ideas, but I think this is a good one. My friend, Jennifer, took a picture of her husband reading my book, Braving the Storms. An idea came to me as I looked at the picture. I’ve received letters and emails from fans across the United States, Canada, and Europe, Asia, and Africa. I love to get emails from you, I read every one, but it would even be more interesting with pictures.
What I’m looking for is a picture of you reading one of my books in an unusual or unlikely setting. So, if you live near a volcano, like I do, or you’re going on an unusual vacation, take my book along and snap a picture. Then send it to me at kyle@kylepratt.me.
I’ll post the pictures with the most unusual locations and settings here, on the website.
June 15, 2016
Book Credits
How many people does it take to create a novel?
Braving the Storms, by Kyle Pratt
Recently I watched X-Men Apocalypse with one of my sons. At the end of the action we waited to see if there were any post-credit scenes (there is). As we watched the endless scroll of credits we discussed how many people were involved in the production of my last novel, Braving the Storms.
Over the next few days I jotted down names of people who either worked for me on the novel, or volunteered their time. I hope I didn’t forget to include someone on the list below.
Author: Kyle Pratt
Editor: Barbara Blakey
Copy Editor: Joyce Scott
Line Editor: Lorraine Pratt
Cover Design: Micah Hansen
Critique Group: Robert Hansen
Carolyn Bickel
eBook Format: Amit Dey
Audiobook: Kevin Pierce
Beta Reader: William Childress
Office Manager: Lorraine Pratt
Accounting: Robert Pratt, CPA
Legal: Christopher Vandenberg, JD
This doesn’t include people working for distributors such as, Amazon, Nook and iTunes, or the numerous bloggers and reviewers that I speak with on a regular basis.
While my list isn’t nearly as long as the movie credits, it still includes a lot of people, and I’m grateful to every one of them.
May 24, 2016
Wattpad Serial Thriller
Wattpad and Smashwords are coordinating a promotion of thriller genre books. Smashwords founder, Mark Coker, selected the books and they are featured on Wattpad. Through Many Fires was chosen to be included and will be serialized on Wattpad over the next couple of months.
All of my novels are currently available on Smashwords, an independent ebook distributor, along with other distributors, such as Amazon.
Wattpad is a writing community of readers and writers. Stories are available for free reading either on the website or through a mobile app. Nearly half of Wattpad users are in the United States, but other countries include the United Kingdom, Canada, the Philippines, Australia and other countries.
In addition to Through Many Fires, I currently have the first chapter of Titan Encounter and the complete Final Duty novelette on Wattpad. Other stories will be added later in the year.
